Malik pulled the bag from beneath the seat.
He placed one strap over his shoulder.
Then he looked at Catherine.
She looked away first.
Father and son walked toward the boarding door.
Richard and Robert followed.
The second executive remained behind.
Catherine stood beside Seat 2A.
Nobody spoke to her.
When Malik reached the jet bridge, his shoulders finally dropped.
David noticed immediately.
He stopped.
“You sure you’re okay?”
Malik looked toward the aircraft.
“I didn’t like everybody watching.”
“I know.”
“I almost moved.”
David’s expression softened.
“That would have been understandable.”
“But it was my seat.”
“Yes.”
Malik looked at him.
“I didn’t want to use your name.”
David became quiet.
“Why not?”
“Because the ticket should work without your name.”
David stared at his son.
Then he nodded.
“You’re right.”
Richard stood nearby.
He heard every word.
His face tightened.
Malik continued.
“She only stopped because you came.”
David looked toward the aircraft door.
“That’s what we need to understand.”
Robert cleared his throat.
“We can move Malik to another premium seat while we investigate.”
Malik immediately looked at his father.
David looked at Robert.
“Why?”
Robert seemed confused.
“For his comfort.”
“His seat is 2A.”
“Yes.”
“So why should he move?”
Robert stopped.
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
David’s voice remained quiet.
“This is exactly the problem.”
Robert nodded slowly.
“You’re right.”
Malik watched the adults.
He realized something.
His father was not arguing for a better seat.
He was arguing against the idea that Malik should be moved again.
That mattered.
Richard looked toward Malik.
“Seat 2A remains yours.”
Malik nodded.
“Thank you.”
David turned toward him.
“You never needed him to give it back.”
Richard absorbed that.
“Yes.”
He corrected himself.
“Seat 2A was always yours.”
Malik smiled faintly.
“That sounds better.”
For the first time since David arrived, somebody almost laughed.
Even Richard smiled.
The tension eased slightly.
Then Robert’s radio sounded.
He stepped away.
David looked at his watch.
“You were supposed to depart ten minutes ago.”
Richard shook his head.
“We’ll hold the flight.”
“I don’t want special treatment.”
Richard looked surprised.
David continued.
“I want the problem documented.”
“I want Malik treated according to his ticket.”
“Then I want this flight to leave.”
Richard nodded.
“We can do that.”
Malik looked toward his father.
“Are you coming?”
David hesitated.
“No.”
Malik’s disappointment appeared immediately.
David crouched again.
“I have meetings here.”
“You knew I was flying alone.”
Malik nodded.
“I’m still flying alone.”
“Yes.”
“But now everybody knows who you are.”
David understood.
That changed things.
Malik did not want the cabin watching him because of his father.
David thought carefully.
“What do you want?”
Malik looked toward the aircraft.
“I want them to forget.”
David smiled sadly.
“That might take a few minutes.”
Malik looked down.
Then he said, “I still want to go.”
David nodded.
“Then you go.”
Rising Tension
Inside the aircraft, Catherine remained near the forward galley.
Another flight attendant, Olivia Grant, approached quietly.
“What happened?”
Catherine looked toward her.
“You were in the back?”
“Yes.”
Olivia glanced toward the boarding door.
“People are talking.”
Catherine lowered her voice.
“The kid’s father is David Johnson.”
Olivia frowned.
“Who?”
Catherine stared.
“Johnson Aerotech.”
Olivia’s expression changed.
“Oh.”
Catherine nodded.
“They supply half the avionics modernization package Mesa is rolling out.”
Olivia looked toward Seat 2A.
Then back at Catherine.
“So?”
Catherine blinked.
“What?”
Olivia lowered her voice.
“What does that change?”
Catherine stared.
“He’s David Johnson’s son.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Catherine looked irritated.
“Do you understand how serious this is?”
Olivia nodded.
“I understand it was serious before his father arrived.”
Catherine became quiet.
Olivia continued.
“If his boarding pass said 2A, why were you moving him?”
Catherine looked toward the aisle.